Horseshoe



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS SKELTON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

HORSESHOE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1J 8,845, dated July 18, 1865.

To'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SKEL'roN, of Rockford, in the count-y of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horseshoes; and I do hereby declare that thefollowin g is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view of my joint and flanged horseshoe applied to the foot. Fig. 2 is aback view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the outerplate covering the flanged shoe. Fig.4is aplan view of the jointed plates that support the flange 5 and Fig. 5 is a view of one of the corks detached, and a portion of the bottom plate,'through which it passes.

My invention consists of a llanged shoe so jointed in front as to permit the ange to be clasped upon the hoof, and so supported behind as to keep it permanent on the foot without nails and without contracting the hoof. To effect these objects perfectly, it is indispensable that the shoe should be flexible before being placed on the foot and rigid while worn, and also that the shoe should beso arranged as to prevent the contraction of the heels ofthe horse which wears them.

My shoe is made in three parts, A, B, and C, with a connecting-bar, D, and a spring-support, E.

The parts A and B are made for the opposite sides of the hoof, with strong flanges F and F', and are connected at the toe by a rivet, which leaves them free to be expanded or drawn together at the heel, and when thus united they constitute the upper shoe, which may, for economy, be made of malleable iron, and the flange, having the proper angle of inclination and the curvature for horses7 feet of average size, will, it is obvious, fit many feet.

be made with two shoulders, and the lower plate should have the holes larger than those in the upper plate, and then when the corks are screwed tight they will more perfectly prevent the lower plate from moving, and the corks will have a double support.

When it is not desirable to use calks with my shoe, it is obvious that suitable screws may be used in' numbers sufficient to hold the upper and lower plates firmly together, and it is also obvious that the form of the outer surface of the lower plate may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

When the parts A and B are connected, and with the plate G are fitted to the hoof, which should be properly pared to secure a uniform bearing on the rim, the bar D may be fitted in length and punched at its ends to receive the calks or screws which are to hold it in place. This bar D is placed near the ends of the heels of the shoe, and may be, as shown in the drawings, outside of the lower plate or placed between the plates, and in the latter position may be of a thickness that will swell the heels of the shoe to any extent desired. V

.To the center of the bar D, I rivet securely a spring, E, which is curved in such amanner that its ends e and e', when turned back, will rest against the inner walls of the hoof on the outsides of the frog and press the sides of the heel into the flange, and thus effectually prevent contraction of theheels. It is obvious that to prevent the shoe from slipping on the hoof small spurs may be let into it, and to prevent the ends e and e of the spring from getting out of place they may, without the slightest injury, be sunk in slight grooves in the hoof.

It is obvious that, while my shoe can be effectively worn without nails, it may be easily removed or replaced by any one without going to the shop, and that, while it is impossible to contract the heel, this shoe will enable animals with cracked or diseased hoofs to'be worked or exercised without pain, when they would be lame if unshpd, or if shod with shoes of ordinary construction.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A jointed hanged shoe, combined with a bottom plete and bar, when arranged substantially in the manner described, for the purpose set forth.

2. A jointed flanged shoe, combined with e v bottom plate, rigid bar, and spring, arranged substantially in the manner described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

THOS. SKELTON. Witnesses: JNO. AUSTIN, J AMES MCPHERsoN. 

